Epicor CPQ (KBMax): The Complete Guide to 3D Visual Configuration

For manufacturers dealing with highly configurable products, text-based quoting can be a nightmare. Spreadsheets become unwieldy, logic errors lead to unbuildable products being sold, and the customer experience suffers when buyers can't visualize what they're actually requesting.

Enter Epicor CPQ (formerly known as KBMax), a platform explicitly designed to solve these manufacturing complexities through best-in-class 3D visual configuration.

In this guide, we'll break down why Epicor CPQ stands out in a crowded market, how its architecture works, and when you should choose it over alternatives like Salesforce or Oracle CPQ.

1. Why Visual Configuration Changes Everything

Most CPQ platforms rely on attribute-based configuration: you select drops-downs, check boxes, and radio buttons. While this works well for software (SaaS) and simple physical goods, it falls short for spatial, dimensional, or highly customized products.

Epicor CPQ provides an interactive 2D and 3D visual interface right out of the box.

• For Buyers: They can see their product come to life in real-time, spinning the model, changing colors, and adding components.
• For Sales Reps: Visual validation drastically reduces quoting errors. If you can build it in the 3D viewer, it can be manufactured.

2. The Snap Rules Engine

Behind every great CPQ is a powerful rules engine. However, the barrier to entry for many platforms is the requirement for deep development knowledge (like BML for Oracle or Apex for Salesforce).

Epicor utilizes Snap, a visual logic engine that requires no raw coding. Snap uses interlocking blocks to define logic, making it accessible to product engineers and administrators who understand the business rules but aren't necessarily software developers.

3. Automated CAD and BOM Generation

For many manufacturers, getting the quote is only half the battle. The engineering team then has to translate that quote into a Bill of Materials (BOM) and CAD drawings.

Epicor CPQ automates this handoff. Once a configuration is finalized, the platform can generate CAD drawings (integrating directly with SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, and PTC Creo) and dynamic BOMs to pass directly into your ERP system. This eliminates the "engineering bottleneck" that plagues customized manufacturing.

4. Deep ERP Integrations

While formerly KBMax, the acquisition by Epicor has understandably led to profound, native integrations with the Epicor ERP ecosystem (Kinetic, Prophet 21).

However, it remains completely viable and powerful as a standalone or integrated with other ecosystems:

• Salesforce AppExchange: It can embed seamlessly into Salesforce Opportunities, allowing you to use Salesforce as your CRM while leveraging Epicor for the heavy configuration lifting.
• Other ERPs: Pre-built connectors exist for SAP, NetSuite, and Microsoft Dynamics.

Is Epicor CPQ Right For You?

If your company sells software, subscriptions, or professional services, Epicor CPQ is not for you. Its strengths are entirely focused on physical, complex, build-to-order, and engineer-to-order manufacturing.

Choose Epicor CPQ if:

• You sell highly configurable physical products (trailers, sheds, highly customized machinery).
• Your sales process is currently bottlenecked by engineering needing to validate configurations.
• You want to empower your dealers or end-customers with self-service 3D configuration on your website.

Visual CPQ isn't just about looking cool—it's about accuracy, speed, and connecting the quote directly to the manufacturing floor. Epicor CPQ remains one of the premier platforms for executing that vision.